MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has temporarily suspended the license of the driver of a Toyota Fortuner involved in a road rage incident at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone over the weekend.
In a statement on Monday, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said the female driver has been summoned to appear before the LTO-Region 3 aside from the 90-day preventive suspension on her license.
“Personal kong tututukan ang kasong ito dahil ang ganitong asal ay hindi gawain ng isang matinong motorista (I will personally monitor this case because that kind of behavior is not done by a sane motorist),” Mendoza said.
The vehicle itself, with MV file number Z7N88, has been placed on the alarm list of the LTO.
“Magsilbing aral na naman muli itong kasong ito sa ating mga motorista na walang mabuting maidudulot ang galit lalo na habang magmaneho (This case should serve as a cautionary tale to motorists that nothing good comes out of being angry while driving),” he said.
In the show cause order (SCO) issued by LTO-3 director Ronnie Montejo, the female motorist was identified as a resident of Morong, Bataan while the SUV she was driving during the incident was registered to a female resident of Makati City.
Both the registered owner and the driver of the SUV were directed to submit a notarized explanation within seven days of receiving the SCO and were scheduled for a hearing on March 1.
“Non-filing or late submission of the answer is deemed an admission of the allegations,” the SCO read.
The LTO is looking into whether the driver has violated Section 27 of Republic Act 4136 (Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle) and may lead to the cancellation of registration of the Toyota Fortuner if she was found guilty of the charge.
The road rage incident happened between the SUV and a Hyundai Eon along Binictican Road at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Feb. 17 around 10:30 a.m.
Based on information from the LTO’s coordination with the local police, the Eon was traveling on the road when the driver of the Fortuner tried to overtake but was later forced to suddenly stop.
The SUV then repeatedly reversed into the Eon that was driven by a senior citizen.
She later ran away from the scene of the incident. (PNA)
